Mathematical calculations with numerical indicators

Abstract

One example includes a method for assigning numerical indicators that each define a respective numerical format in a mathematical calculation. The method includes receiving a mathematical expression as an input. The mathematical expression includes at least one expression term. The method also includes assigning a first numerical indicator to each of the expression term(s) and performing at least one mathematical calculation provided by the mathematical expression to obtain a mathematical solution comprising at least one solution term. The method also includes assigning a second numerical indicator to each of the solution term(s) based on the first numerical indicator of each of the at least one expression term and based on rules defined in an indicator priority rule-set. The method further includes displaying each of the at least one solution term of the mathematical solution in a format corresponding to the respectively assigned second numerical indicator on a graphical display.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-transitory computer readable medium that is configured, when executed, to implement a method for assigning numerical indicators that each define a respective numerical format in a mathematical calculation, the method comprising:
 receiving a mathematical expression as an input, the mathematical expression comprising at least one expression term;   assigning, respectively, a first numerical indicator to each of the at least one expression term; and   performing at least one mathematical calculation provided by the mathematical expression to obtain a mathematical solution comprising at least one solution term;   assigning, respectively, a second numerical indicator to each of the at least one solution term based on the first numerical indicator of each of the at least one expression term and based on rules defined in an indicator priority rule-set, wherein the rules are configured to match a format of the at least one expression term with a format of the at least one solution term; and   displaying each of the at least one solution term of the mathematical solution in a format corresponding to the respectively assigned second numerical indicator on a graphical display;   wherein assigning the first and second numerical indicators includes:
 storing the first numerical indicator associated with each of the at least one expression term as a data tag linked with each of the at least one expression term in a memory; and 
 storing the second numerical indicator associated with each of the at least one solution term as a data tag linked with each of the at least one solution term in the memory. 
   
     
     
         2 . The medium of  claim 1 , wherein assigning the first numerical indicator to each of the at least one expression term comprises assigning the first numerical indicator to each of the at least one expression term based on an input format of each of the at least one expression term. 
     
     
         3 . The medium of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator priority rule-set as a set of rules that define a hierarchy of priority of each of different types of numerical indicators during the at least one mathematical calculation. 
     
     
         4 . The medium of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 receiving the indicator priority rule-set as an input; and   storing the indicator priority rule-set in a memory.   
     
     
         5 . The medium of  claim 3 , wherein the hierarchy of priority of each of different types of numerical indicators is defined at least in part by order of operations of the mathematical calculation. 
     
     
         6 . The medium of  claim 1 , wherein performing the at least one mathematical calculation comprises obtaining at least one intermediate term associated with the mathematical calculation, the method further comprising assigning a third numerical indicator to each of the at least one intermediate term, wherein assigning the second numerical indicator to each of the at least one solution term comprises assigning the second numerical indicator to each of the at least one solution term based on the third numerical indicator assigned to each of the at least one intermediate term and based on the rules defined in the indicator priority rule-set. 
     
     
         7 . The medium of  claim 6 , wherein performing the at least one mathematical calculation comprises performing the at least one mathematical calculation on a first expression term and a second expression term to obtain a respective one of the at least one intermediate term, wherein assigning the third numerical indicator to each of the at least one intermediate term comprises assigning the first numerical indicator associated with the first expression term and the first numerical indicator associated with the second expression term to the respective one of the at least one intermediate term based on a numerical indicator priority defined by the indicator priority rule-set. 
     
     
         8 . The medium of  claim 6 , wherein performing the at least one mathematical calculation comprises performing the at least one mathematical calculation on a first intermediate term and a second intermediate term to obtain a respective one of the at least one solution term, wherein assigning the second numerical indicator to each of the at least one solution term comprises assigning one of the third numerical indicator associated with the first intermediate term and the third numerical indicator associated with the second intermediate term to the respective one of the at least one solution term based on a numerical indicator priority defined by the indicator priority rule-set. 
     
     
         9 . The medium of  claim 1 , wherein the rules include at least one of the following:
 in response to the mathematical expression including a calculation with a first fraction, convert a division of a first term and a second term that both include integer numerical indicators into a second fraction with an integer numerical indicator on a numerator and a denominator; and   in response to the mathematical expression including a decimal expression, propagating a decimal expression indicator to the at least one solution.   
     
     
         10 . A system comprising the non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the system includes a graphical user interface. 
     
     
         12 . A non-transitory computer readable medium that is configured, when executed, to implement a method for assigning numerical indicators that each define a respective numerical format in a mathematical calculation, the method comprising:
 receiving a mathematical expression as an input via a user interface, the mathematical expression comprising at least one expression term;
 assigning, respectively, a first numerical indicator to each of the at least one expression term; and 
   performing at least one mathematical calculation provided by the mathematical expression to obtain at least one intermediate term;   assigning, respectively, a second numerical indicator to each of the at least one intermediate term based on the first numerical indicator of each of the at least one expression term and based on an indicator priority rule-set comprising a set of rules that define a hierarchy of priority of each of different types of numerical indicators corresponding to a numerical format;   performing at least one mathematical calculation on the at least one intermediate term to obtain a mathematical solution comprising at least one solution term;   assigning, respectively, a third numerical indicator to each of the at least one solution term based on the second numerical indicator of each of the at least one intermediate term and based on the indicator priority rule-set, wherein the rules are based on user preferences, and wherein the rules are configured to match a format of the mathematical expression with a format of the mathematical solution; and   displaying each of the at least one solution term of the mathematical solution in a format corresponding to the respectively assigned third numerical indicator on a graphical display.   
     
     
         13 . The medium of  claim 12 , wherein assigning the first, second, and third numerical indicators comprises:
 storing the first numerical indicator associated with each of the at least one expression term as a data tag linked with each of the at least one expression term in a memory;   storing the second numerical indicator associated with each of the at least one intermediate term as a data tag linked with each of the at least one intermediate term in the memory; and   storing the third numerical indicator associated with each of the at least one solution term as a data tag linked with each of the at least one solution term in the memory.   
     
     
         14 . The medium of  claim 12 , wherein assigning the first numerical indicator to each of the at least one expression term comprises assigning the first numerical indicator to each of the at least one expression term based on an input format of each of the at least one expression term. 
     
     
         15 . The medium of  claim 12 , wherein the hierarchy of priority of each of different types of numerical indicators is defined at least in part by order of operations of the mathematical calculation. 
     
     
         16 . A system comprising the non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 12 . 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the system includes a graphical user interface.